It's not too late to get a flu shot. That's the word from San Diego County health officials, who say flu activity is picking up throughout the region.
So far this season, at least 881 San Diegans have come down with the flu. That’s more than double the number of cases reported at the same time last year.
In addition, this season there have also been five flu-related deaths, and 17 flu-related admissions to hospital intensive care units.
Even people in good health can get severely ill from the virus, said Dr. Wilma Wooten, San Diego County's Public Health officer.
“We know that those people that have complications are at greatest risk," she explained. "But in past flu seasons, we’ve had people that have had no underlying medical conditions develop the infection and die.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates more than 200,000 Americans are hospitalized each year with flu-related complications.
Last season 68 San Diegans died from the flu.
